Incubator



" (No Model.)

H. R. FOSTER. INGUBATOR.

N0. 595,381. Patented Deo. 14, 1897.

UNITED STATES PATENT fOi'EEIcE'.

HARLOV R. FOSTER, OF ASHBY, MASSACHUSETTS.

INCUBATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of rLetters Patent No. 595,381, dated December 14, 1897.

Application filed March 26, 1897. Serial No. 629,427. (No model.)

. brooders.

The invention consists, essentially, of a water-tank or boiler superimposed over an eggchamber and having extending therethrough longitudinally a flue leading from a lamp or other )caloric-generator.

The invention further consists of a conical deiiector movably arranged over the lamp or caloricgenerator, which is adapted to be shifted by automatic means from communication with the flue extending longitudinally through the boiler to a second iineor vent leading directly out to the atmosphere.

`The object of the invention is to maintain at all times a uniform degree of temperature Within the egg-chamber or the brooder, controlled by automatic mechanism,which will be hereinafter more fully set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the draWings,.Figure l is a central longitudinal vertical section of a brooder embodying my improvements. Fig. 2 is a transverse vertical section on the line a; :c lof Fig. l. Fig. 3 is a detail perspective View of the deiector and its attachments.

In the drawings like numerals of reference are used to represent'the same parts of construction in the several views.

The numeral l represents the case or outer framework of the incubator, constructed of any suitable material and form. In the lower portion thereof and preferably 'extending through the longitudinal length of the same is an egg-chamber 2, which is adapted to be supplied with a series of egg trays or supports vof any suitable construction or well-known form, but preferably removable in order that the said egg-chamber may be readily converted into a brooder. This chamber is provided With a door 3 of preferred construction and having thereon suitable fastening means.

` The heating-chamber 5 is sufficiently largev to permit of the placing therein of a lamp or other .caloric-generator, and one end of the boiler slightly projects over said chamber to accomplish the desired operation of the several parts of themechanism, as Will be more fully hereinafter set forth. Over the top of the lamp or caloric-generator is mounted a movable deiiector 6, which is preferably in the form of a frustum or of aquadrangularpyramid and hollow and having depending from two opposite sides thereof supports or arms 7, bent at an angle andtheir lower portions removably fitted orj ournaled in opposite sides of the outer casing or frame. Secured to this deiiector is the projecting arm or end 7 of a thermostat that is in the main situatedin the egg-chamber and the operation of which will be readily understood, and it is intended that any preferred form of thermostat is to be used. When the heat reaches atemperature above that required, the arm of the thermostat will Vmove in the direction to disconnect the deflector in such manner as to convey the heat from the interior to the exterior portion of the incubator until the desired temperature is reached, and should it go below the predethe central portion of the bottom of said boiler or water-tank is a longitudinally-disposed flue 9,which opens through its bottom at one end, as at l0, in order that communication may be had with the deflector hereinbefore set forth,

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while at the opposite end the said iiue has a smoke-pipe 1l connected therewith and extending upwardly to and above the top of the casing or frame l of the device. On the end of the boiler or water-tank which projects overl the heating-chamber 5 is secured a line 12, which is vertically disposed and communicates with the outer atmosphere. The lower part of this flue l2 at its inner side is provided with a depending lip or guard-iiange 13, which depends from the upper part of the defiector and limits the movement of the latter to such an extent that when the thermostat operates to change the position of said deilector the latter will be caused to aline itself with the said iiue l2 or with the longitudinally-disposed flue 9 in the boiler or water-tank 8.

The operation of the incubator as herein described is simple, as will be readily seen. Normally the deiiector 6 will be arranged to communicate with the opening 10 leading into the flue 9 in the boiler S, it being understood that water is placed in said boiler or tank 8. The water is heated by the caloric passing through the deflector in the flue, and the heat is evenly distributed not only by radiation from the said flue 9, but also by the heated water within the boiler or tank. Primarily the thermostat will be arranged or set to maintain a required degree of temperature within the egg-chamber7 but as the temperature in the said chamber exceeds the necessary degree the said thermostat will operate to move the deflector, so that the latter will communicate with` the flue l2 until the speciiic degree of temperature is again reached in the said chamber, when the delieetor will move back and communicate with the flue 9. Thus it will be seen that an even distribution and regular temperature will be maintained within the egg-chamber without the attention of an operator. The amount of water placed within the boiler or tank S will be varied to suit different kinds of work required to be performed by the incubator, but under all conditions economy in the distribution of heat ensues, as well as saving in the amount of fuel necessary to produce said heat.

It will be understood that many minor details of construction and arrangement of parts hereinbefore mentioned may be changed within the scope of equivalency and be substituted for those shown and described without in the least departing from the nature or spirit of the invention.

It will be seen that the longitudinal flue 9 is connected to and forms a part of the bottom or inner side of the boiler 8, and this feature is very important not only in the operation of the device as an entirety, but also in the convenience which ensues in the construction of the several parts, as the boiler can be quickly arranged for operation in view of the fact that mounting the boiler in place simultaneously positions the iiue without further manipulation. The ilue can also be arranged to have its end or ends come through the end of the boiler or in any other manner desired so long as the fine preserves its identity within the scope of the invention.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new isl. An incubator comprising a lower chamber and a superimposed heating-tank or boiler, having a longitudinally-disposed iiue in the boiler or tank and a vertical flue at one end ot said boiler or tank, an automatically-movable tubular deiiector having depending pivoted arms adapted to communicate with said fines in alternation, and a thermostat foroperating said deflector substantially as described.

2. In an incubator, the combination with a boiler or tank having a longitudinally-disposed iiue therein provided with a smoke-exit at one end and a lower opening at the opposite end, of a vertical fine located at the end of the said boiler or tank adjacent to the said lower opening having a lip or guard-liange depending from the inner lower side thereof, an automatically-operating tubular delector adapted to communicate with said opening in the iiue in the boiler and also with the said vertical tlue and having a pair of depending arms with the lower portions thereof journaled in opposite sides of the casing of the incubator, the said defiector being in the form of a frustum of a quadrangular pyramid, and into the upper end thereof projects the lip of the said vertical line, and a thermostat for operating said defiector, substantially as described.

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In testimony whereof I have signed this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

WALTER J. SMITH, GEORGE F. JEELs. 

